Egypt Escapes Avis 285

We booked our holiday with Egypt Escapes and to be honest, I didn’t really check the hotels they booked for us at the start and end of the holiday. I only noted that they were “5 star all inclusive” – Big mistake.
They put us in the El Karma in Hurghada prior to the coach journey to Luxor and we were only there from 10pm until being picked up at 4am. The place was a bit of a dump and miles out of Hurghada. This meant that after being picked up at 4am we were still picking people up at other hotels and hour and twenty minutes later.
The El Karma “all inclusive” didn’t include a glass of wine or wi-fi, so we were glad we only had to endure the place for a couple of hours.
We arrived at Luxor at 10am where we were given a small glass of orange squash – this was all we were given between 4 am and 1pm when lunch started.
On arriving at the Royal Viking, our guide “Zac” asked for £20 each for the “tips” which we all handed over. This was to be a common theme as everybody, everywhere wanted tipping. One of the worst parts of the experience was on the final morning when we were getting ready to leave and sat in the main reception with the rest of the group. The Manager came over and “demanded” to know why we had not made any tips at the reception? We had tipped practically everybody apart from the ships cat, but he was very aggressive to everyone there wanting to know who we had tipped and how much.
So to the cruise itself which was ok. It was a nice to see the world go by and visit the various temples/excursions but to pay £520 for myself and my wife for the excursions was excessive to say the least. The guide Zak was pleasant, but unfortunately his ability to speak clear English was very limited due to his accent so we spent 7 days listening to him but couldn’t really make out much of it.
Due to the horrible hotel Egypt Escapes had put us in prior to the cruise, I checked the accommodation Royal Lagoons, that we were going to for the final few days after we returned to Hurghada from Luxor. The hotel had received 3 one star reviews in the past week.
I asked Zac who worked for Sun International if they could find us an alternative hotel and showed him the reviews. He spent the next 6 days every day saying he would fine out and try and change it but of course he never did. I also contacted Egypt Escapes who had not interest whatsoever of trying to help so we actually ended up going to the Royal Lagoon which was every bit as bad as people said it was – see photos.
The Royal Viking on first glance seems very nice and it is but it also very much needs a refit and update which all the fellow guests agreed. The fridge hardly worked and the one in the room next door had to be replaced as it didn’t work at all. It was a bit of a pain having to boil the kettle on the floor as the cable didn’t reach, and there weren’t any power points at the side of the beds.
We didn’t have the drinks package and unless you are a complete alcoholic there’s no need to. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the wine was very nice.
The food was ok.
One thing however that I found really annoying – They charge you for water!!!!
They also charge for Coffee and Tea and they’d charge you for Oxygen if they thought they could get away with it.
So all in all it was ok but I wouldn’t book with Egypt Escapes. Once they have your money they don’t want to know. They also booked us into the cheapest budget hotels they could in order to maximise their profit.

30 March

I’ve just read the reply from Egypt Escapes and would just like to add-

At no time whatsoever did they mention budget hotels - if they had I wouldn’t have booked them.
So I challenge you- show everyone where budget hotels are mentioned.

The rep did say other hotels could be available but we would have to pay more money but why should I?

A reputable travel company would make sure the hotels are not budget (especially for the price you’re charging) and we must have been really unlucky to stay at the only 2 hotels Hurghada that charge for wine and beer.

You don’t seem to have mentioned the “tipping” debacle or the excessive price of excursions or the guide not being able to speak English very well, but then again I’m not surprised.

Nile cruise good
Tours booked through them in Cairo a rip off.
Charged £200 for tour guide for one morning at the pyramids for four of us. We could walk less than 1 minute from our hotel to enter and had to still pay entry fee. When we booked the tour we did not read the small print and of course assumed the price we paid for a tour would include entry which is approx £10 per person. The tour guide will be paid around £5, so a clear £195 excess! Shocking!!! My husband has since contacted them to air his dissatisfaction. They agreed we should not have been charged, so refunded the entry fee + £20 good will gesture. Hence I've bumped them up a star. You are still better off sorting trips in Cairo once you are there.

Excellent service in planning and execution!
Every stage was a delight, all transport arranged and on time, hotels and the MS Viking were excellent!
Would recommend 👍😊
Thank you
Gary

Really helpful and engaging service from the start. Would definitely recommend to the travelling novice.

It was a pleasure to book this holiday, Sara was the perfect agent. Looking forward to the trip.

We spent 4 nights of a 7 day cruise on the Nile BELOW DECK despite booking a mid deck cabin. No view. No fresh air. I am mildly claustrophobic. Bad luck no other cabins available. Would not have taken this cruise if we’d been told of Egypt Escape’s contractual break with our booking. But no. Not until we are on the boat late at night are we told we’ll be below deck for the next 4 nights. And being told ‘it’s a nicer ship’ doesn’t make up for our crocodile view of the Nile. The crew was nice.

Just returned from a Nile cruise and a couple of days in Cairo, I was a bit apprehensive as I was travelling solo bu my fears were totally needless, everything was organised superbly
.All the flights were as booked, there were people there to meet me and show me to my taxis, which were always on time, the cruise was superb, as were the excursions- staff on the boat were excellent. The price quoted was reasonable and no hidden extras.
I will definitely be using Egypt Escapes again.

gary parker was extremely polite and efficient and booked my trip without any hiccups whatsoever. a delight to speak with and very informative too

James was very helpful and knowledgable when booking our holiday. He made sure everything was what we required for our multi centre trip to Egypt

It was a pleasure to make this booking. Susan was lovely. Reassuring, sensible and very efficient.

Booked a Nile cruise with Egypt Escapes and spoke to Gary who was very helpful and informative throughout

Waited for all travel documents to be sent through and received them in the evening
Ours were all in order but we were also sent full documentation for another holiday including all details bit surprised
Admin error ?

very easy to book friendly staff

Serah was fantastic.
Friendly , informative, great to talk to.
Great experience.
Bucket list holiday booked. 😁

Gary was very helpful and all documentation arrived promptly

The Hotel in Cairo the Pyramid Edge is not in the best area of Cairo ok you can see the Pyramids but our guide told us not safe to go out on our own . No fire exit signs as far as I could see . Giza is not a good area. You can see the pyramids but you still have to go the long way round to go in the tourist entrance. Only the Egyptians can go in the Giza entrance. The guide Zak was excellent.
Also when we got to Amman hotels and trips good but for some reason they put us on an internal flight from Amman to Aqaba when it was only a 3.5 journey by car. So we wasted a day messing around at an airport also for return home ! So we wasted 2 days of our holiday . We had to fly the 30 min flight back to Amman then fly home the next day ! There is a connecting flight from Aquba to Amman to Lhr . It really took the shine of our Amman trip
So future customers beware . Apart from that Nile cruise and other hotels good . The Nile is now very commercialised so stay away if you don’t like crowds .Due to congestion at the lock our boat was 6 hrs delayed. If our guide had not been switched on and got us a mini bus to Luxor we would have not seen the Temple or light show . I would go off season to avoid the crush.

Everything worked with drivers and guides being reliable and on time - and in some cases adding a little extra. Very full agenda with early starts (to avoid worst of crowds) and some less physically able people struggled to keep up with steps and rocks. Became oblivious to street hawkers and hassle while out and about by the end of the week. Shorts and tee shirts in January a delight, but chilly after dark with only a few bitey things about. Wine and beer on boat typically UK/EU prices.

Hi just booked a holiday with you James was the guy who took care of everything the service from James was excellent he covered everything and made me feel very relaxed throughout the process good guy thanks James

James was very patient we had to get my g/d college holiday dates and he waited until we were happy. He produced a personalised iteneary for us

Found Gary very helpful in identifying and booking the Nile Cruise to meet my non standard needs

Trying to organise a trip to Cairo and a Nile Cruise is a mine field. Lots of information is available on the internet which often conflicts. It is also challenging reviewing tour agents websites and the prices differ massively.

I called James Clark at Egypt Escapes and he couldn't have been more helpful. He asked searching questions to establish what I wanted and presented options to me in an effective manner.

I had no hesitation booking my holiday with James, I had no need to search any longer.

I can now sit back and look forward to a great holiday.